How does a business owner measure success

Measure what matters—then bank it.

1. Cash-flow surplus
   13-week forecast shows ≥ 90 days cash on hand and DSCR ≥ 1.25 every Friday.
   If the bank could audit you tomorrow, you’d still qualify for the same line.
2. Owner’s net-worth delta
   Track personal equity growth generated by the business: distributions + retained earnings + appreciated business value.
   Success = enterprise value that converts to your balance sheet, not just top-line trophies.
3. Return-on-Owner-Time (ROOT)
   Annual owner comp ÷ hours worked.
   Goal: ROOT ≥ 5× market wage for that function; otherwise you bought a job, not a company.
4. Bankability scorecard
   PAYDEX ≥ 80, FICO SBSS ≥ 180, no PG on revolver, covenant-lite term sheet.
   Cheap capital on standby = optionality to pounce or survive.
5. Customer concentration & churn
   No single client > 20 % of revenue; net retention ≥ 100 %.
   Diversified, sticky revenue is the moat that protects the four numbers above.

Hit all five and you’re not just “busy”—you’re rich, protected, and free.